

#389
Mentioned in 66 episodes
The grapes of wrath
Book • 1939
Published in 1939, 'The Grapes of Wrath' is a powerful and poignant novel by John Steinbeck.
It tells the story of the Joad family, Oklahoma tenant farmers who are forced to leave their home after the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.
The novel follows their arduous journey along Route 66 to California, where they face numerous hardships, including poverty, exploitation, and the loss of family members.
The book explores themes of family, survival, and the struggle for human dignity in the face of overwhelming adversity.
It also delves into the broader social and economic issues of the time, highlighting the conflict between the powerful and the powerless.
Steinbeck's work is known for its vivid portrayal of the human condition and its impact on American literature and society.
It tells the story of the Joad family, Oklahoma tenant farmers who are forced to leave their home after the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.
The novel follows their arduous journey along Route 66 to California, where they face numerous hardships, including poverty, exploitation, and the loss of family members.
The book explores themes of family, survival, and the struggle for human dignity in the face of overwhelming adversity.
It also delves into the broader social and economic issues of the time, highlighting the conflict between the powerful and the powerless.
Steinbeck's work is known for its vivid portrayal of the human condition and its impact on American literature and society.
Mentioned by



























Mentioned in 66 episodes
Mentioned by 

in the context of the Great Depression and its impact on the Midwest farming community.


David Rosenthal

771 snips
Walmart
Mentioned by 

as a movie that was hunting for what it is and featuring an extraordinary Henry Fonda.


Frank Miller

723 snips
#831: Frank Miller, Comic Book Legend — Creative Process, The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, 300, and Much More
Recommended by Richard Werner as a description of economic reality better than economics textbooks.

566 snips
Richard Werner Exposes the Evils of the Fed & the Link Between Banking, War, and the CIA
Mentioned by 

as one of the greatest American novels because Steinbeck showed us the dignity of the poor.


Dana Gioia

311 snips
My Top 10 Writing Lessons from 2025
Mentioned by 

, who recalls reading it and associates it with Steinbeck.


Gilbert Cruz

257 snips
Sunday Special: The Books We Read in School
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as he identified with it after moving from Oklahoma to California.

Ed Ruscha

106 snips
Ed Ruscha
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as one of her two all-time favorite books.

Jennifer Kavanagh

88 snips
The Army's Pivot to the Pacific with Dr. Jennifer Kavanagh
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

when referencing Ma Joad's sentiment about not wanting to worry about the future.

Jameson Olsen

84 snips
8 Lessons For Protagonists in 2026
Mentioned by Nicholas as one of the novels Khamenei was reading that depicted struggles against oppression.

78 snips
Not-deciding factor: Iran’s supreme leader
Mentioned by 

as a book that made "Death of a Salesman" seem okay and by 

who considered it a slog.


Adam Grant


Shannon Hale

53 snips
ReThinking: Raising a new generation of readers with Shannon Hale
Mentioned by 

when reminiscing about their first paying acting job.


Cole Escola

46 snips
Cole Escola
Mentioned by 

, who stated that he only thought 'Death of a Salesman' was okay after reading it.


Adam Grant

43 snips
Raising a new generation of readers with Shannon Hale
Mentioned by 

as a famous socialistic novel about why government needed to care for people during the Great Depression.


Ben Shapiro

41 snips
East of Eden | Ben Shapiro’s Book Club
Mentioned by Peter Swimm as an example of something that people might ask AI to write.

39 snips
69: Using AI at Work with Peter Swimm: From SaaS to Conversational Workflows
Mentioned by H.R. McMaster in the context of a scene where a farmer wants to shoot someone due to his farm being repossessed.

37 snips
Are We Doing This Again? Andrew Ross Sorkin on “1929” and the GoodFellows on 2025 | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
Mentioned by 

as an example of a book that captured a moment of economic hardship in America.


Adam Conover

37 snips
Homeless and Employed in America with Brian Goldstone
Recommended by a listener in the context of audiobooks.

37 snips
The Art of Audiobooks with Julia Whelan
Mentioned by 

in the context of reading and not being satisfied enough to stop watching pornography, recalling a breastfeeding scene.


Theo Von

34 snips
#633 - Trevor Wallace
Mentioned by 

when discussing how California is portrayed in rock music.


Nick Gillespie

26 snips
Streaming Music Isn't a Free Market. It's a Regulated Monopoly.
Mentioned by 

as an example of American decadence but also as a vehicle of cultural exchange.


Kevin Williamson

25 snips
The Lamest Showman on Earth | Roundtable


